St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-10-06
SUICIDE IN ST. JoHNsBURY.
George 9. Shaw Takes His own Life
With a Revolver.

George g. shaw Takes His own Life
with Revolver.
George S. Shaw, an old resident of
st. Johnsbury, committed suicide Mon
day morning shortly after seven
o'clock, shooting himself with "Bull-
dog" revolver, the ball entering his
head just above the right ear. He fell
dead instantly without speaking a
word. H. B. Davis, who lives near by,
called on him a few moments before
when he seemed about as usual though
respondent. Shortly after the domes-
tic employed in the family was sweep
ing the dining room which opens out
of the bedroom where Mr.. Shaw lay.
He requested her to close the door be-
tween the rooms to keep out the dust.
A moment later Mrs. Shaw and the
woman heard the report of pistol.
He had got out of bed and gone into
| the water closet where the deed was
done. Mr.. Shaw has been more or less
of an invalid for some years and for
| the past four or five months has been
confined to the house. He was subject
to respondent turns and has frequent
ly expressed his purpose to end his
suferings by taking his own life. On
| Sunday his son Charles of Danville
visited him and all the matters of bust
ness relating to the affairs of the fami-
ly were talked over and adjusted, Mr..
Shaw expressing the opinion that he
would not live long. Charles feared
that his father contemplated suicide at
the time, called the attention of others
to it and a diligent search for fire arms,
which were always kept in the house,
was made without avail. Later in the
evening Major and Mrs. N. P. Bowman
called. Mr.. Shaw shook hands with
them as they went away saying that he
would like to say some things but was
not strong enough, that he had settled
up his business affairs and was about
through, closing with the words "gOOd
bye" which he had repeated to others
who had called during the day. The
result was not a surprise to those near
est him. His disease was consumption
and all hopes of his recovery had long
ago been abandoned. Mr.. Shaw had
heretofore threatened to take his life
and the life of his wife, and for long
time she had been in fear of him.
For more than 30 years Mr.. Shaw
had been one of the best known bust
ness men in this part of the state.
While living at st. Johnsbury East he
engaged in fire insurance, and after
removing to this place about the year
1855, he continued i'm that business
with marked success. For the last
three or four years he has done nc
business of any account, being in de-
Ginning health. The history of his
family is sad one. Two or three o.
the older children died of consumption
after arriving at manhood and woman.
hood. Some years ago Mrs. Shaw haC
a disease come upon her eyes which
resulted in total blindness. Not long
afterwards the second son, Walter, raj
away and the last heard from him h,
, was in South America. Six years age
the youngest son, Henry, young MAJ
of about % years, blow his brains on
r in Mr.. Shaw's office before his fathe
f and man present from Boston wh'
was doing business with him. Mr.
Shaw leaves a wife-blind as above
stated-One son, Charles, respected
{ citizen and well-tO-dO farmer in Dan
vile, and an aged mother in Saratoga
, the widow of the late Isaac Harring
| ton of St. Johnsbury East.